Skyclan returns

Chapter 8

Hollywing was awake before Leafstar, Echosong, and Sharpclaw, so she hastily ate some fresh-kill before she went to wait at the thorn tunnel; she didn't have long to wait. Echosong and Sharpclaw came first, saying that Leafstar was speaking to Firestar, and soon Leafstar joined them.

Leafstar led them at a brisk trot through the trees down to the lake shore, dawn light warming their pelts as they came out of the cover of the trees. The pebbles were smooth and hard under Hollywing's paws, and they clacked together as the small group moved toward the WindClan border. Hollywing was walking next to Leafstar, with Echosong and Sharpclaw behind them.

The way to RiverClan's territory was silent and quick, and they were soon out of ThunderClan's territory, running within two foxlengths of the lake edge on WindClan's territory. Hollywing scented a patrol once, but they saw no WindClan cats and passed through their territory without incident.

Hollywing saw Mistyfoot waiting on the lakeshore for them, and once they she was in sight, Leafstar picked up the pace to a run until they got to where she was sitting. "Welcome SkyClan," Mistyfoot greeted them, sounding friendly. "I'm Mistyfoot, RiverClan's deputy. Leopardstar wanted me to show you around the territory behind ours; we've been there a few times, but it's not easy for us to hunt in that area."

Mistyfoot stood up and led them through the trees into RiverClan territory, and Hollywing couldn't help but notice that the path they were taking was away from the RiverClan camp. Mistyfoot trotted steadily through RiverClan's territory with the SkyClan cats and Hollywing following her, then stopped at the edge of the border.

"This is the end of RiverClan's territory," Mistyfoot explained to Leafstar. Mistyfoot crossed the border and Leafstar marked the place before following her with the rest of her group.

"This is the only stream that runs through your new territory," Mistyfoot mewed after they arrived at a clear stream. "It didn't have much fish in it, so it wasn't much use to RiverClan."

Mistyfoot moved on, but Echosong remained at the spot. "Would you mind if I stayed here and looked for herbs?" Echosong asked. "They usually grow by water, and I thought I should try and figure out where the herbs are in case I need them."

Mistyfoot nodded her approval before she moved on. The forest had become different from RiverClan's territory; there were very tall trees here and not a lot of undergrowth. Hollywing knew she couldn't ever live here, with no undergrowth to hide in when you were stalking prey, and she knew why RiverClan and ShadowClan hadn't claimed this land.

Leafstar and Sharpclaw, however, didn't seem to be bothered by the lack of undergrowth and the tall trees. They must be used to hunting in places like this, Hollywing thought.

Mistyfoot was a good guide, and she pointed out various things that were interesting. In one part of the forest there was a large rock that looked like a cat's tail sticking up in the air, a tree that had fallen over and landed on a thick tree stump to make a little den, and several bushes.

This was where Leafstar decided to make the SkyClan camp. Sharpclaw agreed it would be a good place, and Hollywing had to admit, it did have good protection by being near the heart of SkyClan's new territory, so they wouldn't get much trouble from other Clans.

The small group left the new SkyClan camp and examined the rest of the territory. Hollywing knew by the scuffling of tiny paws and chirping of birds that this territory was by no means lacking in prey, and she felt happy for the SkyClan cats. By the time they were done exploring SkyClan's new territory, it was past sunhigh.

Leafstar, Sharpclaw, Hollywing, and Mistyfoot went back the way they came and found Echosong, sitting happily by the stream. "I found plenty of herbs," she announced cheerily.

"That's good," Leafstar replied. "We'll bring our Clan here immediately." Leafstar walked next to Mistyfoot as they headed back to the lakeshore, and Hollywing could hear them discussing what life was like living around the lake.

When they got to the lake, Mistyfoot stopped and turned to face them. "I'll wait here for you to come back with the rest of SkyClan and help you find your way back to your new camp," Mistyfoot offered.

"SkyClan thanks you for your help," Leafstar meowed, dipping her head slightly. She waved her tail, and Sharpclaw, Echosong, and Hollywing followed her at a run across the WindClan border along the lake. They were, once again, not bothered by WindClan cats, and made it back to the ThunderClan camp in good time.

Leafstar ran across the clearing to where Firestar was sitting, waiting for them. She talked to him before giving out the traditional call. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a Clan meeting!"

Gradually, the two Clans trickled out of dens and from corners of the camp to gather around Leafstar and Firestar. Hollywing noticed for the first time that the Clans were no longer sitting apart, but together as if they were one Clan. Cloudtail, Brightheart, Cherrytail, and Sparrowpelt were sitting together, talking and laughing. Daisy, Millie, and Robinwing were watching Harekit and Molekit play fight, and Jaysight and Moonpaw were sitting with each other, conversing like old friends.

"SkyClan, we have found a new home!" Leafstar announced. "The territory Sharpclaw, Echosong, Hollywing, and I explored was wonderful, and we have already found a new camp that is well protected."

Both Clans were talking so much that Leafstar could not be heard, so she stopped talking for awhile. Hollywing thought the talk would die down soon, but it only seemed to increase. She looked to her left and was surprised to see Mousewhisker there, standing by her side.

"Enough!" Leafstar yelled. A silence instantly fell over the cats as they waited for Leafstar to continue. "We will leave now so that we can settle into our new home before night falls."

The SkyClan cats sadly, hesitantly, said their goodbyes to their ThunderClan friends and reluctantly formed up in front of the thorn tunnel. Sharpclaw helped Robinwing to the crowd and they left, following Leafstar.

All of a sudden the hollow seemed empty, even though there were still close to thirty cats in camp. "I guess you'll have a nest in the warriors' den now," Mousewhisker murmured.

"I guess so," Hollywing agreed silently. A great sadness hung in the air as the ThunderClan cats went around their usual business, eating, sharing tongues, and going on patrol. No cat laughed or smiled, except for the kits, who were still as full of energy as ever.

Hollywing went into the warriors' den and picked a nest next to Mousewhisker's before she laid down in it. She closed her eyes when she heard someone enter the warm den, but it was only Mousewhisker. "It's not the same without the SkyClan cats, is it?" Hollywing murmured, opening her eyes.

"A lot of cats made good friends in SkyClan, and to have them just taken away like that…" Mousewhisker replied, then shook his head. "I think Jaysight took Moonpaw's leave especially hard."

"Why?" Hollywing asked, surprised. "I saw them talking before the Clan meeting, but I didn't think they'd become that good of friends."

"I think Jaysight had finally found someone to relate to," Mousewhisker answered.

"What about Willowberry?" Hollywing asked. "She's really nice, and she's a new medicine cat, too."

"I don't know," Mousewhisker sighed. "You know Jaysight and Willowberry didn't get off to a good start, and they're too stubborn to let it go."

"I suppose," Hollywing grudgingly agreed. Then there was silence. Hollywing could tell by Mousewhisker's even breathing that he was asleep, but she didn't feel the need to sleep at that moment.

Hollywing carefully crept out of the den, loathe to wake up Mousewhisker, and headed out of camp. She climbed to the top of the quarry and rested in a low tree branch to watch the camp. The sun's dying rays filled the quarry, making it seem like the stones were shining a dark red, and Hollywing was glad she had the sun at her back instead of in her eyes.

Hollywing heard a noise behind her, and turned her head to see Jaysight walking up to her. "Do you have room up there for another cat?" he asked, his tail dragging on the ground and his whiskers drooping.

"Of course," Hollywing replied gently, moving over so that Jaysight could join her on the branch. Jaysight leaped up and landed with perfect accuracy on the branch.

Jaysight and Hollywing were silent with their own thoughts, but Hollywing knew Jaysight was deeply troubled. "Are you sad that Moonpaw left?" she asked. When Jaysight looked at her oddly, Hollywing mewed, "Mousewhisker told me."

"Yes," Jaysight replied after a long silence. "I liked her…a lot."

"You'll still see her at Gatherings and when you go to the Moonpool," Hollywing reminded him. "It's not like you'll never see her again."

"It's not the same," Jaysight snapped. Hollywing stayed silent after that, not wanting to upset him anymore.

Jaysight leapt off of the branch, muttering that he had to get back to camp, and Hollywing was alone with her thoughts again. She looked up at Silverpelt, which had yet to fully form in the sky, and hoped that Jaysight would get over the loss of Moonpaw.